How do you prepare for the poster session and engage your audience?
A poster session is a great opportunity to showcase your research and interact with your peers, mentors, and potential collaborators. However, it can also be challenging to design an effective poster, prepare a concise and engaging pitch, and handle questions and feedback from your audience. In this article, we will share some tips on how to prepare for the poster session and engage your audience in the context of science communication.
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Samvit Menon, PhDLab Manager | Technical Team Lead | uLED Test and Characterisation | Process Optimisation | Continuous Improvement |…
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Sindhu VelmuruganNeuroscience | Pre-clinical | In-vivo and in-vitro pharmacology | AAV based gene therapy | Student mentor
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Pooja Swamy 🇮🇳Transformative Founder & Chief Scientist at The Scientific Way | Simplifying Research Skills for All through Workshops…
Your title is the first thing that will catch the attention of your audience, so make it clear, concise, and catchy. It should convey the main message and relevance of your research, and spark curiosity and interest. Avoid using jargon, acronyms, or technical terms that might confuse or alienate your audience. Instead, use simple and accessible language that can appeal to a broad and diverse audience.
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Be minimalist in designing a poster. Your poster should not have more than 3 columns. Put an abstract at the beginning and rest of it should include figures, images. Only insert text where necessary. Maintain a proper contrast while choosing the color of your headlines, fonts and backgrounds. Group relevant figures or elements. Use readable fonts e.g. arial.
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In the realm of poster sessions, your title serves as the initial spark of interest. My approach involves a meticulous balance—ensuring clarity while infusing a touch of intrigue. Success in this endeavor hinges on steering clear of jargon and technical terms, opting instead for accessibility. Drawing from my experience in presenting astrophysics research, I've witnessed the power of simplicity. The titles I craft are deliberately devoid of complexities, aiming to pique curiosity without alienating any inquisitive mind. This intentional approach to title creation sets the stage for a meaningful connection with a diverse audience. Have any questions? Please let me know!
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The tips for preparing for a poster session and engaging your audience: * Poster: Clear message, visuals, easy flow. * Practice: Short talk, anticipate questions. * Engage: Be approachable, ask questions, show enthusiasm. Remember to dress professionally and arrive early to relax before the session. Good luck!
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Choose an Eye-Catching Design: Your poster's layout should be both aesthetically pleasing and simple to read. Avoid utilising too many colours that could distract from the message and instead pick a colour scheme that goes well with your content. Use contrasting colours to highlight important information, but be careful not to use too many colours, as this can make your poster look cluttered. Make sure the content is simple to read from a distance and use a legible font size and style.
Your poster is the main tool to communicate your research, so make it visually appealing, informative, and easy to follow. Use a logical and consistent layout, with a clear introduction, methods, results, and conclusions. Use graphs, charts, images, and colors to illustrate your data and highlight your key findings. Avoid using too much text, and use bullet points, headings, and fonts to organize and emphasize your main points. Make sure your poster is readable from a distance, and check for typos, errors, and inconsistencies.
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A key aspect I consistently prioritize is the flow of information. Unlike publications, posters have a brief window of audience attention. Emphasizing clarity and avoiding overwhelming the audience with excessive data or visuals, I find that getting straight to the core of the idea has yielded the most success for me.
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I find that creating visual posters with the main question positioned in the center and additional details branching out on the sides is a strategic and effective design choice. This format encourages a logical flow of information, making it easier for viewers to understand the core question and explore related aspects.
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Un póster no debe contener toda la letra que has querido plasmar en un artículo o capítulo de tu tesis. Es importante que sea más visual o esquemático que lleno de contenido, de hecho, el póster debe servir para atraer a otros investigadores o asistentes al congreso, de forma que los detalles se los puedas contar tú mismo.
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Create a Clear Layout: Think about the content's structure and layout while creating your poster. Start with a title that appropriately summarises your study and is straightforward and concise. Use bullet points and numbered lists to make the material easier to read, and headers and subheadings to divide the text into sections. To tie everything together, be sure to add a concise opening and conclusion.
Your pitch is the oral summary of your poster, and it should be short, engaging, and tailored to your audience. It should not exceed a few minutes, and it should cover the main aspects of your research: the background, the question, the methods, the results, and the implications. Use simple and clear language, and avoid jargon and technical details. Use analogies, examples, and stories to make your pitch more relatable and memorable. Practice your pitch beforehand, and adjust it according to the level of interest and expertise of your audience.
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When pitching to people viewing your research and presentation, make sure to understand the separate roles of yourself and the poster. The poster is there to serve as an aid to what you are describing, while providing additional information on your topic through the usage of visuals(graphs, charts, images) and text sections. Your role is to guide the reader through a clear and concise overview of what your work is on, allowing them to spend more time with the visual aids on your poster to understand your work at their own pace, and a way that works for them. When speaking, make sure you highlight only the most important information and let the information under each section work for you. Have any questions? Please let me know!
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Keep it Simple: When creating posters, one of the biggest mistakes we make is attempting to add too much information. Keep in mind that the poster should supplement your presentation, not serve as a substitute for it. Focus on highlighting the most significant findings and outcomes while keeping the information succinct. Graphs, photos, and bullet points may all be used to effectively communicate your views.
Your audience is the reason why you are presenting your poster, so make sure you interact with them effectively. Be friendly, approachable, and enthusiastic about your research. Invite questions and feedback, and listen actively and respectfully to your audience. Answer questions clearly and honestly, and acknowledge any limitations or uncertainties in your research. If you don't know the answer, admit it and offer to follow up later. Thank your audience for their attention and interest, and exchange contact information if possible.
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1. First Impressions Matter: Ensuring a successful poster session extends beyond the visuals to your interaction with the audience. Approach the session with a friendly and enthusiastic demeanor, making your passion for the research evident. 2. Transparency is Key Foster engagement by inviting questions and feedback, demonstrating an active and respectful listening stance. When addressing queries, be transparent about your research's limitations or uncertainties, fostering an honest dialogue. If a question stumps you, graciously admit it, promising to follow up later. 3. Leave a Lasting Impression Express gratitude for their attention, and seize the opportunity to exchange contact information, facilitating future connections.
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Know Your Audience: It's important to think about your audience before you begin developing your poster. Consider the conference's subject and attendees while creating your poster design. Are you addressing a group of subject-matter experts or a general audience? You may make a poster that successfully communicates your findings to readers by having a clear understanding of who they are. Start with a statement that is concise and easy to understand. Your poster should have a main point that is simple to comprehend and remember. Make sure your message is concise and clear because conference guests might only have a short amount of time to read your poster.
Your poster session is not only a chance to present your research, but also to learn from others. Take advantage of the opportunity to network with other researchers, and explore other posters that are relevant or interesting to you. Ask questions, give feedback, and exchange ideas with your peers, mentors, and potential collaborators. Learn from their experiences, insights, and suggestions, and appreciate their contributions to your field. Be open-minded, curious, and respectful of other perspectives and approaches.
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1. Everyone's the expert(not just you!) so be open to learning. Embrace your poster session as more than a presentation—view it as a learning opportunity. Engage in networking by connecting with fellow researchers, delving into posters relevant to your interests. Foster a collaborative environment by posing questions, offering constructive feedback, and exchanging ideas with peers, mentors, and potential collaborators. 2. Different Points of Views Absorb the wealth of experiences and insights your colleagues bring to the table. Remain open-minded, curious, and respectful of diverse perspectives and approaches, enriching both your understanding and the collective knowledge within your field. Have any questions? Please let me know!
Finally, enjoy the experience of presenting your poster and engaging with your audience. It is a rewarding and fulfilling opportunity to share your passion and enthusiasm for your research, and to contribute to the advancement of science and knowledge. It is also a valuable and fun way to improve your communication skills, gain confidence, and receive recognition for your work. Celebrate your achievements, and be proud of yourself.
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I love presenting posters! Contrary to an "invited talk", where you deliver a 10-15 min talk to a tiny theme-based audience of a handful of people, a poster allows you a much longer and deeper engagement with an audience. You'll have young students and experienced researchers approaching you. You'll engage with researchers for a few hours. There's so much you get to learn. Make your poster stand out with a quirky title and colourful graphics. Don't show all your results. Get the audience to talk to you. Let them ask you about your research. Practice summarising your work to various audiences. As the saying goes, you're not communicating right if you can't explain your research to a 10-year-old. Make your poster count.
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Proofread and Edit: Make sure to review and update your material before submitting your poster for printing. Make sure everything is correct and up to date and proofread for spelling and grammar mistakes. Have someone else go through your poster so they may offer comments and point out any errors you might have overlooked. Bonus: Include your contact information (make sure to include your contact information on your poster so that interested attendees can follow up with you after the conference).
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